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Motorists stood in line for hours to have a drink in Costa’s cars this morning, raising fears that people will ignore the blockade measures as more street chains are reopened.
Tailbacks spread around the block at takeout chains in Edinburgh, Wakefield and Glasgow today as drivers waited to get their coffee.
Over the weekend, eager customers queued for more than a mile for coffee at a branch at Snowhill Retail Park in Yorkshire, as it reopened after more than a month on Saturday.
But it has sparked a backlash from key workers, who say people who venture out to find food and drinks to go ignore warnings and pleas from the government and NHS staff to stay home.
This comes as fast-food giants, including KFC, McDonald’s, Five Guys, and Burger King, gradually move to restaurants, leading to a deluge of orders and long lines as delivery drivers wait in line.
Drivers were seen lining up for coffee on Costa Drive Thru, Cameron Toll, Edinburgh this morning
Staff members were masks serving trays of coffee to customers at the Edinburgh branch
Over the weekend, only 12 deliveries and 17 self-service stores were delivered in towns and cities, including Croydon, Edinburgh (pictured), Glasgow, Leeds and Newcastle
In other developments in the coronavirus crisis today:
- Education Secretary Gavin Williamson announced a support package worth nearly £ 3 billion to help universities overcome the coronavirus crisis;
- A smartphone app to track the spread of the coronavirus will be tested on the Isle of Wight this week before launching more widely later this month;
- Edinburgh scientists have developed a new “fast and accurate” coronavirus antibody test, although the company fears the NHS may be lost amid interest in Europe for machines;
- Heathrow Airport has warned travelers that they may face kilometer-long queues to board flights;
- Former government chief scientific adviser Sir David King has brought together a group of experts to discuss how the UK could pull out of the blockade in response to concerns about “lack of transparency” coming from advisory group Sage;
- Railway unions have been accused today of trying to hamper Britain’s recovery while keeping the country to rescue after they said it was “premature” to open the country’s public transport network when the blockade is eased.
Four Costa Coffee branches reopened in Manchester, Bristol and Mansfield, two single deliveries, two in transit, on April 24, one month after the closure began.
And on April 2, only 12 other deliveries and 17 self-service stores were reopened in towns and cities such as Croydon, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Leeds and Newcastle.
Some Costa Coffee branches have opened within hospitals to serve NHS staff through closure. But the decision to manage a total of 33 stores in Britain indicates that Costa Coffee is one of many chains seeking to boost commerce.
But the move has sparked a dispute among social media users, who have been torn apart by the urge to open takeout.
James Gallivan shared photos of the Wakefield branch on Facebook, writing: ‘I just went to Snow Hill to do some shopping from Iceland.
‘We had to queue for 10 minutes just to get to the shopping park and see that the entire queue was for Costa Coffee! Upon leaving, the queues had worsened further, back to the roundabout at The Vine Tree (Capri)!
The road was in chaos, a police car couldn’t even pass at one point!
‘Seriously, the folks at Wakefield give you a shake if a coffee is that important to you, WE’RE LOCKING!
“Continuing like this we will never get rid of this Virus, pure madness !!!!!”
Another social media user added: ‘Costa should be closed again. The lock has NOT been lifted.
The UK government chased a blockade after scientists produced models warning that half a million people could die from the coronavirus if no action was taken.
There is concern that the decision to shut down a large part of the UK economy has brought the country to the brink of a more severe economic crisis than the Great Depression of the 1930s.
Economists have estimated that the blockade is costing Britain around £ 2.4 billion a day, while a Bank of England official recently warned that Britain could face the worst economic contraction since 1920-21, and possibly for three centuries.
Other companies that have moved to limited store reopens or delivery-only services include Five Guys, Nando’s, KFC, and Burger King.
KFC has launched an investigation after images of cast riders ignoring social distancing measures appeared at its recently opened Filton restaurant in Bristol.
A staff member wearing a face mask and gloves is seen driving cars on the Burger King road in Havant, his first branch to reopen
Costa Coffee CEO Jill McDonald told the Daily Mirror: ‘Last week we made the decision to reopen two Drive-Thru lanes and two stores for delivery only in accordance with the latest government advice.
‘The safety of our team members and our customers is our number one priority and prior to the reopening of these stores, we implemented new guidelines for social distancing, improved hygiene procedures and are providing EPP teams.
“We are very pleased with how well our store teams have been able to adapt to our new ways of working, allowing us to serve great coffee as safely as possible.”
Ms. McDonald continued, “ We have also received great feedback from our customers and key workers who take the opportunity to enjoy a well-deserved coffee break during essential trips to and from work.
“Starting May 2, we will increase the number of Drive-Thru lanes and stores open for delivery through Uber Eats.”
McDonald’s said it will reopen 15 restaurants for delivery in JustEat and UberEats alone, and restaurant locations will be announced this week.
The fast-food giant won’t serve breakfast and will return with a limited menu and shorter opening hours from 11 a.m. at 10 p.m.
McDonald’s will bring perspex displays and floor markings, non-medical grade face masks for staff, and social distancing measures for delivery drivers.
All employees will be asked to confirm that they are fit and able to work, and managers will use non-contact thermometers with temperatures taken when arriving at work each shift.
McDonald’s laid off 135,000 employees when it temporarily closed the store in March.
According to government regulations, food companies may operate as take-out and delivery food establishments under closure.
Pret A Manger recently announced plans to partially reopen as pressure mounts for an exit plan from the blockade that is plaguing the economy. Its stores will open near GP hospitals and surgeries for delivery and take-away services only.
But Greggs has postponed the reopening of 20 stores for fear of overcrowding.
The take-out bakery chain temporarily closed all 2,050 branches last month to protect customers and staff after the government ordered the closure of all non-essential stores.
